Carl L. Tagge 1933-2011: Veteran postal worker always came through

Not only did Mr. Tagge fulfill his appointed rounds in northwest suburban Mount Prospect for more than five decades no matter the weather, he also did so in sickness and in health

"He rarely called in sick because he took his work so seriously," said his wife, Mary. "He knew people depended on him, especially the elderly waiting for their Social Security checks in the mail."

Mr. Tagge, 78, of Mount Prospect, who retired from the Postal Service in 2007, died of complications related to Parkinson's disease Saturday, July 9, in Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

Known as "Pops" by fellow letter carriers, Mr. Tagge met his wife on the job — he was her trainer — and despite having routes on opposite sides of the village, the two would often meet for lunch.

"He had the west side and I had the east," said his wife, who retired soon after they married 36 years ago. "We'd find a park bench where we'd sit and eat our sandwiches."

Mr. Tagge won several awards at the Mount Prospect post office, including Carrier of the Year in 1970, and he was profiled in two local newspapers.

"He was a dedicated postal employee who everyone — colleagues and customers alike — really respected," said Terry Rohan, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers for Branch 4099. "At union meetings, I knew I could always count on Pops as the voice of reason."

In the late 1990s, Mr. Tagge was chosen by post office officials to appear on "The Tonight Show" for a segment on how times have changed, his wife said.

"When he first began delivering mail, a stamp cost 3 cents and there was no such thing as a ZIP code," his wife said.

That interview never materialized, but WBBM radio did a feature on him on the 50th anniversary of the day he became a letter carrier, his wife said.

"Almost everyone that day heard him on the radio because they kept playing the interview over and over," she said.

Born and raised in Des Plaines, Mr. Tagge was a graduate of Maine High School. After high school, he joined the Army and was stationed for two years in Iceland during the Korean War.

In 1955, Mr. Tagge began working for the Postal Service in Mount Prospect and was assigned to residential routes. Toward the end of his career, he delivered mail from a truck to far-flung areas in Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights, before retiring after 52 years of service.

Through the years, Mr. Tagge delivered mail through blizzards, subzero wind chills and stifling heat.

"He once told me, 'I could do this forever — the only thing that gets wet is my arm!'" his wife said.

Other survivors include three sons, Matthew, Jacob and Harlan; two daughters, Christina Melchert and Mary Beth; a sister, Mary Alice Neitzske; and two grandchildren.